The Council’s approved garage – MAN Truck and Bus – have confirmed that they can no longer provide the vehicle testing service for which they are currently under contract to November 2026.
Amber Valley Borough Council have been forced to terminate the contract with MAN Truck and Bus, effectively ending 12 June 2026. Given the urgency of the situation, the option to conduct a full tender is not tenable due to the timescales involved, so arrangements have been made on very short notice to enter into an agreement with a new garage which is owned and managed by a neighbouring Local Authority, this being North East Derbyshire District Council. This does mean that the testing station is outside of the boundary of the Amber Valley district and further to travel to have the tests carried out, but this is considered a reasonable trade-off to enable the Council to continue to issue licences.
As from Monday 15 June 2026, the new testing station will be:
Transport Department
NEDDC
Rotherside Road
Eckington
S21 4HL
Amber Valley Borough Council has a responsibility for licensing hackney carriages and private hire vehicles, drivers, and operators within the district of Amber Valley.
The grant of all licences shall be considered in the context of the Amber Valley Borough Council Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, relevant legislation, and guidance subject to the licensing conditions.
The aim of licensing of the Hackney Carriage ("Taxi") and Private Hire Vehicle ("PHV") trade is, primarily, to protect the public as well as to ensure that the public have reasonable access to taxi and PHV services because of the part they play in local transport provision.
Its purpose, therefore, is to ensure the system is operated by 'fit and proper' persons and to prevent licences being given to or used by those who are not suitable persons taking into account their driving record, their driving experience, their sobriety, mental and physical fitness, honesty, that they are people who would not take advantage of their employment, and to ensure that hackney carriages and private hire vehicles in the district are safe, and that the powers are exercised in compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights.
There is currently a facility in existence whereby drivers or proprietors can apply for a grant from the Government to assist in the purchase of 'greener' vehicles and 'Plug-in Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles'. Eligibility and application information can be accessed at www.gov.uk/government/publications/plug-in-wheelchair-accessible-vehicle-grants-eligibility-and-applications/plug-in-wheelchair-accessible-vehicle-grant-eligibility-and-applications.
The current Hackney Carriage Tariff Table can be found by using the link below.
Contact the team directly on 01773 570222 or email licensing@ambervalley.gov.uk
